Just because it’s good. (Hod Part V)

Have you ever insisted on helping someone develop even though that growth would have no rebound benefit on you? This is the opposite of Koheles’ message “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.” Koheles suggests that a kindness is good because it comes back to you even after a long time. But there is an even more expansive way of approaching goodness. You can be giving because you are able to see that there is value in the world that is not your value. It is probably the most important trait a human being can have in so many ways.

“It’s not about me, it’s about the other guy.” is not the point. You shouldn’t factor into the sentence at all. It’s not about being altruistic. It’s about seeing the value of more good in the world. And being happy because that is so.

Not because it will lower the price of your goods.

Not because you want to sacrifice your happiness for someone else.

Just because you know how wonderful it is when you have that good, and are happy when others can have it as well.

Or, even better, you don’t know what it’s like to have certain joys; the roll of the dice deprived you of certain perks that life offers to others. And when you see others experience those joys, you are happy, at least someone has it good.